Bond between new mothers, day-old babies captured in powerful photos

LONDON -- A stunning photo series featuring new mothers and their barely day-old babies is showing the powerful bond between mother and child.

Jenny Lewis, a photographer in England, captured the life of new mothers before their babies had even turned 24 hours old.

"My aim was to capture the extraordinary bonding, warmth and strength between mother and infant," she said in a press release. "In fact the whole range of amazing emotions felt at that time, as the mothering instinct kicks in."

Lewis has been working on the project for five years, visiting new moms in her London neighborhood. She didn't discriminate based on race, age or other factors, she said, because the bond is there no matter who the mother is.

The main goal of the series, though, was to present new mothers as powerful and satisfied in juxtaposition with the jittery and shaken portrayal sometimes seen in media.

"I find the collection of images defiant and beautiful, challenging the expected vision of those first 24 hours, a pure celebration of what it means to be a mother," she said.

To take the portraits, Lewis visited each mother's home and spoke with her about her experience. She has put the photos and some of the mothers' insights into a book called "One Day Young."

"One Day Young" by Jenny Lewis is published by Hoxton Mini Press. Images used with permission.